Kompany says Man City needs to start performing like 'champions'

Captain Vincent Kompany has ordered Manchester City to start acting like champions and stop living in the past after an average start to their season

Roberto Mancini's men have been rocked after crashing out of the Champions League and falling six points behind Manchester United in the title race.

Mancini and his flops are feeling the heat after suffering a miserable few weeks, as the Blues failed to even qualify for the Europa League and then lost their long unbeaten home league record to their bitter rivals and neighbours United on Sunday.

United are now in pole position to go on and depose the Blues as champions again and land a record 20th league crown.

Kompany has waded into the debate and warned his crumbling side they are not living up to their billing as England's top dogs.

"In my mind, there is no difference other than we now know we can do it, so if we apply ourselves correctly we can win it again," the Daily Star quoted Kompany, as saying.

"Of course, as champions you start most games as favourites to win and teams tend to sit back a little bit more and wait for you to take the game to them - then try to catch you on the counter-attack," he added.

"Teams may have more respect, but they are not naive with it and that makes each game a bit trickier than it was last season. It's an honour to be defending the Premier League title, so you have to take everything that comes with it," he said.

"The message was very clear for everyone at the start of the season - we can't sit back and just expect the success of the last campaign to land in our laps again," he further added. (ANI)